Thaddeus (Tad) Pace, Ph.D

Tad studies biological mechanisms linking psychological stress to illness, and novel ways to combat stress to promote optimal health. His current work explores endocrine and immune system changes in people who suffer from stress-related psychiatric illness including major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has also studied changes in the stress response as a result of adverse early life experiences. Informed by this work, Dr. Pace investigates the effectiveness of novel contemplative interventions to optimize psychological, inflammatory, and endocrine responses to stress including Compassion Meditation (in collaboration with Charles Raison, M.D. and Emory's Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Ph.D.). He is also interested in researching natural anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin to promote health and wellness. Dr. Pace's research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. He is also a 2012 Pop!Tech Science Fellow.

Dr. Pace received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder for his studies on brain regulation of the cortisol response to psychological stress.